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Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris reveals he has cancer

By Mark Fishman | Last updated 10/19/15

Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris revealed on Monday that he has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Norris made the announcement via Instagram:

I've been debating for months as to how or even if I should share this with people. - I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer. So now, I'm asking for prayers. - A few months ago, after I was optioned to AAA, I found out I had a growth on my thyroid. Flying back & forth from Toronto to Buffalo after pitching to have more and more tests done it was finally concluded that the growth is considered malignant.. Meaning it contained the C word.. cancer. Hearing this was alarming, yea. Weird, yea, that too. I was given the option to shut my year down & get it removed immediately. However, seeing another doctor that determined I could wait until the end of the season reassured my gut feeling. Just Keep Playing. Baseball kept me sane. Regardless of results on the field, I forgot about it when I was between the lines. Afterall, I was just trying to get the heck out of AAA. & I did. I was revived with an opportunity, a blessing from God, with the Tigers back in the Big Leagues. So yea, the power of prayer.. It got me through this season. Now that it's over it's time to get this thing out, so please keep me in your thoughts & prayers as I undergo surgery & come out 100% cancer free! As always,,, #justkeeplivin

A photo posted by Daniel Norris (@danielnorris18) on Oct 19, 2015 at 1:59pm PDT

The announcement from Norris, 22, is a disheartening one for baseball fans everywhere. Norris was the prized prospect the Toronto Blue Jays traded earlier this year to acquire pitcher David Price from the Tigers. Norris went 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA, and struck out 27 batters in eight starts for the Tigers this past year.

Norris has also gained notoriety over the last year for his unique life style, as despite being signed to handsome MLB contract, he chooses to live in his 1978 Volkswagen Westfalia van, nicknamed "Shaggy".

We're wishing all the best for Norris, and hoping for a speedy recovery.

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